Olympus has unveiled an optimized workflow for in-vitro fertilization at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), which has left experts from all over the world astonished.

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During the annual meeting of ESHRE, one of the largest events in the IVF market with 12,000 visitors from 130 countries, Olympus staged live demonstrations of workflow integrated spindle visualization for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Olympus demonstrated the benefits of this solution during three live sessions, astonishing many embryologists because of the amazing optical quality and speed of this visualization. Olympus was supported by Embryotools, a partner specialized in providing a wide range of expertise to reproductive specialists and manufacturers.

It is probably a couple’s most natural wish to have a child and start a family. Due to various reasons, however, this is not always easy. Fertility is strongly influenced by external factors such as age, pollution and stress in everyday life. For many couples, the IVF (In-vitro Fertilization) procedure is the only chance for pregnancy to occur. As such, the global IVF market has grown steadily over many years and Olympus is one of the major players in this field. Embryologists rely on the superb optical quality of Olympus microscopes to perform the delicate IVF procedure.

Thanks to the new contrast adjustment IVF procedures have become a lot easier.

The success rate is a crucial quality criterion for clinics performing IVF. Yet any treatment outside its natural environment causes stress for living cells, such as sperm and oocytes. That is the reason why embryologists have a particular interest in a lean workflow while ensuring that oocyte and sperm quality is suitable for a successful procedure.

One method for assessing the quality of the oocyte is polarization microscopy. This contrast technique shows the spindle of an oocyte and allows the embryologist to determine, among other things, the correct position of the oocyte. Adjusting the microscope when implementing this contrast method is demanding and requires many manual settings.

Now, Olympus has integrated contrast adjustment in its semi-motorized IX73 microscopes. This simplifies the IVF procedure considerably. Embryologists must now just press a button and all microscope settings are adjusted automatically, without any noticeable delays in the workflow.

Thanks to the new contrast adjustment IVF procedures have become a lot easier.